Paul and Virginie

by Jacques-HenriBernardinDeSaint-Pierre (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  2003

  $6.97

  Paul & Virginie, was inspired by the sinking of the Saint-Geran near Mauritius in 1744. Through the innocents Paul and Virginie,the author presented his notion of an ideal society, tempered with disillusionment based on Jean-Jacques Rousseau's idea that man starts out with an inherent goodness that is warped by society. Raised as brother and sister on Mauritius, Paul and Virginie are torn apart when a rich relative in France sends for Virginie in order to educate her and bring her up as a lady. Virginie refuses to marry a wealthy suitor, and is sent back to Mauritius during the cyclone season. Her ship, the Saint-Geran, sinks, taking Virginie with it, as modesty will not allow her to remove her clothing in order to swim to shore. Heart-broken, Paul dies not long afterwards.